Cadillac Michigan Historical Tours

29/04/2024

Sharing for our friends at the library who help me get the word out about the Speaker Series.

Want to learn more about your genealogy and preserving it for future generations? Come spend a session with local area historian and writer Shanna Avery and learn some research tips - and how to shape your finds into memoirs, writing and other fun, creative ways to tell and share the story of your family and ancestors! Free!

13/03/2024

I would like to thank everyone who came out to the presentation "Cadillac History In Pictures" at the Cadillac Wexford Public Library last night. It was the first time I have given this particular presentation and I'm glad it seems to have been well received.

Two questions came up last night that I was unable to answer, but have since looked up the answers:

1. The Kelly Block is the block that currently includes the Pawn Shop (the building north of Patterson's Flowers).

2. The picture of the Foster Brothers moving was indeed taken at the intersection of Pine and Mitchell, as the person in the audience suggested.

Again, thank you everyone for coming out and I hope you enjoyed it!

20/02/2024

Oh, hey! That's me! Is anyone excited for our next event? Tuesday, March 12th at Cadillac Wexford Public Library. Free to everyone!

06/02/2024

Happy 106th Birthday, Lyric Theatre! Opened today in 1918 and still entertaining people over a century later.

31/01/2024

Our next History Speaker Series event is Feb 13th at the Cadillac Wexford Public Library . Free for everyone, doors open at 5:30, presentation starts at 6 PM.

25/01/2024

The post I made about George Mitchell's 200th birthday definitely got some traction (for a history post!). It got picked up for an article in the paper, and Bryan Douglas Elenbaas, Marcus Peccia, and later the city council, helped me get this proclomation I drafted made official from the City of Cadillac. How cool is that?! January 8th is now George Mitchell Day in the city of Cadillac! Great to see the city recognizing its past with pride.

11/01/2024

Our mystery audio-only program will be February 13th at 6 PM at the Cadillac Wexford Public Library! What will it be? Will it live up to even the modest hype or will Richard look like Geraldo opening Al Capone's Vault?

11/01/2024

I would like to thank Steve Libert from the Great Lakes Exploration group and everyone who braved the weather yesterday! We got to hear about Steve’s efforts to find the long lost shipwreck, The Griffon, as well as seeing videos and photos of his expeditions. This was a really cool presentation!

Steve’s book, Le Griffon and the Huron Islands - 1679: Our Story of Exploration & Discovery, can be purchased through Amazon or local book vendors!

Thank you to the Cadillac Wexford Public Library for the warm meeting place for all of us history lovers!

03/01/2024

The Most Famous Shipwreck In Michigan History!!!

Steve Libert, President of the Great Lakes Exploration Group will give a presentation on The Griffon; the holy grail of Michigan shipwrecks! Free presentation held at Cadillac Wexford Public Library, January 9th at 6 PM. Doors open at 5:30 PM.

Special thanks to Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau for the amazing video! Hopefully the start of a great relationship bringing Cadillac History to everyone!

02/01/2024

The 200th anniversary of the birth of the "Father of Cadillac, Michigan," George MItchell, is on January 8th. I have been researching his life with great interest for a few years now and did a presentation on him at the library earlier this year. I have developed a great amount of respect for him and his image appears as part of our company logo in honor of him.

Happy Early Birthday, George!

Please like and share to help spread the word about Cadillac History!

27/12/2023

The first day I have had to do research in weeks! UGH!

I came across this in an issue of the Hardwood Record dated 8/25/1908, and had never seen it before. It is a drawing done by Tom Nickoll (or Nicholl, the scan is not very clear). The cool thing is that this drawing is of two "old timers" who worked for the Cu**er Diggins Company.

The accompanying text says, "One detail of the work at every lumber camp is keeping the axes sharpened and the cross-cut saws filed. Alongside every camp shanty is the familar grindstone, and many an hour is spent by the chopers in keeping their axes at a proper edge for the days work. Nearby is usually a crude little shack with a primitive saw bench erected at one side, where the fellers and cross-cutters are frequently seen filing their saws. In fact, the old grinstone is one of the hardest-worked machines employed in all woods operations."

What a cool little piece of Cadillac history!

13/12/2023

I wanted to thank our December guest speaker, Reg Sprik, who came out to talk about his 95 years of life in Northern Michigan! He will actually be celebrating number 96 very soon, so happiest of Birthdays to him! I have had the chance to read his book, and it is full of heart warming small town yarns and I have to say now that I have heard him speak; when I reread a part of his book I am going to constantly see his smile he had while telling the stories!

If you missed the presentation, Reg's book, Rowing Against The Waves is available at bookstores everywhere. I, of course, recommend buying from a local seller if possible!

Our next presentation, on Jan 9th will be about the holy grail of Great Lakes shipwrecks, Le Griffon. Steve Libert, from the Great Lakes Exploration Group will come and tell us the story of this ship and its possible recent discovery!

15/11/2023

I wanted to thank our guest speaker John Wemlinger for his great presentation on his book The Cut and the historical events that inspired him to write it. John has written numerous novels and you can find more info on his page!

Also thank you to Cadillac Wexford Public Library for providing the venue for the series.

Our next speaker event will be on Dec 12th when Reg Sprik will talk about his 95 years in Northern Michigan which inspired his book Rowing Against The Waves.

13/11/2023

Our Speaker Series continues tomorrow night at the Cadillac Wexford Public Library, at 6 PM where John Wemlinger will talk about his based on true events novel, The Cut. Published by Mission Point Press, John will have copies of his books available for purchase. Come out and hear this master story teller talk about his great book!

11/11/2023

Here is our flyer for the full series of events. I wanted to take a moment and thank the Cadillac Wexford Public Library for helping with the series, especially Tracy and the wonderful flyers she designed. Thank you for your help and all you do for the community!

07/11/2023

Who is excited for our first in person speaker? John Wemlinger will talk about his book "The Cut." A historical novel set in 1871 in Manistee County, but based on a true story! Free to the public, doors open at 5:30, presentation starts at 6 PM at the Wexford Public Library. John will have copies of his books for sale, and his titles can be viewed on Mission Point Press' website and https://www.johnwemlinger.com.

05/11/2023

This picture appeared in the 1971 Centennial Edition of the CEN and listed the people in the picture, but with no notes about who is who. I found a small mention in the 11/24/1887 edition of the Cadillac News and Express which mentions this picture.

"The Wolverine Hose Company #2 had H. L. Bragg take a fine large picture of the company some time since and are distributing them among those citizens who had so generously aided them. The picture is a good one and has Labar and Cornwell's block for a background while on the hose cart are perched Masters Charlie Mitchell and Winter Massey."

Charles Mitchell would of course go on to a massive career as an industialist and it is estimated that at one point 1/3 of the workers in Cadillac worked for him or one of the businesses he had a hand in. The Charles T. Mitchell House was his residence.

The other people in the picture are named in the CEN caption.

17/10/2023

Very humbled at the great turnout for the Speaker Series! Our first Historical Building Tour at Cadillac-Clam Lake Lodge #331 had over a hundred people show up! Thank you to our gracious hosts, and our cohost Cadillac Wexford Public Library. Our next program is Nov 14th with John Wemlinger who will talk about his book, The Cut!

And what a beautiful sunset to cap the program off with!

16/10/2023

Just a reminder! Our series kickoff is tonight and is the first Historical Building Tour! We will meet at the Masonic Building in Cadillac Michigan at 6 PM for an insider tour of this historical building! Although both front and back entrances will be open, the rear entrance will be easier for most people (less stairs). Hope to see you there!

19/09/2023

The History Speakers Series returns this October 16th, for our first ever tour! Charles Garrow will show off the most historic building in Cadillac, the Masonic Lodge! October 16th at 6 PM! Park in the lot behind the Masonic Lodge and come in through the rear entrance and get to see this historic building like never before!

18/09/2023

Big announcement coming tomorrow about our Third Annual History Speaker Series. The first event, October 16th, will be our first ever Historical Building Tour! Which prominent historical building will we be touring? Put your guess below and share this post and come back tomorrow for the answer!

10/07/2023

While I was more frequently at the Wexford County Historical Society, I came across an album of pictures from the Mitchell Family, and unfortunately some are unknown. After a few years, I looked back and was able to identify this one. This is Charles T. Mitchell, brother of our town founder George and father of William W. Mitchell and Austin W. Mitchell.

24/03/2023

Our owner/tour guide, Richard, will be presenting on the Theaters And Opera Houses of Cadillac, Michigan on April 4th. Hope to see you there!

07/03/2023

A November 1908 ad from Variety Magazine showing where the Holmen Brothers were going to perform. This is prior to their ownership of Park of the Lakes.

23/02/2023

Did you know?

12/02/2023

Who's excited for the next presentation in the Speaker Series?! Ben Townsend, author of "T23 North, R12 West: The Story of Springville Township" will talk about his book and research!

08/02/2023

What an awesome presentation! Thank you to Delos Blodgett (Roger Elkins) for sharing his knowledge and passion about Mr. Blodgett and his life. Thank you to everyone who came out!

07/02/2023

An Evening with Delos Blodgett is tonight at 5:30 p.m. NOT 6:30 p.m. at the Cadillac Wexford Public Library!

02/02/2023

It is not often that you get to hear the story of early Osceola and Wexford County history directly from the "horse's mouth." For one night only, Delos Blodgett will tell us about his life and business dealings that made him one of the richest and most influential men in Northern Michigan! You won't want to miss our second event in the Historical Speaker Series! Free for everyone and brought to you by Cadillac Michigan Historical Tours, Cadillac Wexford Public Library, and Wexford County Historical Society. Feb 7th at 5:30 PM at the Cadillac Wexford Public Library!